National 11/06/12 cdc.gov: Update – As of November 6, 2012, 48 states have reported WNV infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes. A total of 5,054 cases of WNV disease in people, including 228 deaths, have been reported to CDC. Of these, 2,559 (51%) were classified as neuroinvasive disease (such as meningitis or encephalitis) and 2,495 (49%) were classified as non-neuroinvasive disease. The 5,054 cases reported thus far in 2012 is the highest number of WNV disease cases reported to CDC through the first week in November since 2003. Almost 80 percent of the cases have been reported from 12 states (Texas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Illinois, South Dakota, Michigan, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Colorado, Ohio, and Arizona) and over a third of all cases have been reported from Texas. – For further details see http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm

Alabama 11/06/12 usgs.gov: Update – State health officials have confirmed 43 humancases of WNV throughout the state this year, including one death. – For a breakdown of cases by county see http://diseasemaps.usgs.gov/wnv_al_human.html

Louisiana 11/05/12 dhh.louisiana.gov: Update – State health officials today confirmed six new WNVhumancases, urging Louisiana residents to continue to Fight the Bite. No deaths from the disease occurred this week. So far, there have been 344 human cases and 13 deaths from the disease reported this year. There are two new neuroinvasive disease cases reported this week, from East Baton Rouge and Livingston parishes. There are four new West Nile Fever cases, from Calcasieu (1), East Baton Rouge (2) and West Baton Rouge (1) parishes. – See http://new.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/newsroom/detail/2686

California 11/08/12 Los Angeles County: Officials report that two more bats found in the Santa Clara Valley in the past few weeks have tested positive for rabies. This brings the total number of rabies cases in the county to 55 this year, which is a record number since testing began in 1961. – See http://scvnews.com/2012/11/08/two-more-rabid-bats-in-scv-last-for-2012/

Florida 11/03/12 examiner.com: by Jim Ford – A second confirmed case of dengue fever was diagnosed in Florida on Friday and health officials are investigating a possible third case.

Seminole County

The first confirmed case was reported earlier this week in Seminole County, while the latest case is in Osceola County. It appears that dengue is now widespread in the local environment. Dengue is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquito becomes infected with dengue virus when it bites a person who has dengue virus in their blood. The person may have no symptoms and may not even be aware they are infected. After about a week, the mosquito can then transmit the virus while biting a healthy person.

Osceola County

There is no prevention other than trying to avoid mosquito bites. Though some people may experience little to no effects, the most common symptoms of dengue include high fever (over 101 degrees Fahrenheit), severe headache, severe pain behind the eyes, muscle, joint and bone pain, rash, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a more severe form of dengue infection. It can be fatal if unrecognized and not properly treated in a timely manner. DHF is caused by infection with the same viruses that cause dengue fever. With good medical management, mortality due to DHF can be less than 1%. – For complete article see http://www.examiner.com/article/dengue-fever-strikes-again-florida

Rabies:

Arkansas 10/20/12 katv.com: The number of animals that have tested positive for rabies in the state is up to 141 animals. Last year there were 60 rabid animal cases. According to the Arkansas Department of Health, so far this year there have been 115 skunks, 21 bats, two cows and three dogs that tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.katv.com/story/19871433/rabies-cases-up-in-arkansas

Iowa 11/03/12 Polk&Dallas counties: A black cat with a pink collar reportedly bit two people on Beggars’ Night in the downtown Urbandale area, and police say they want help finding it. The incidents occurred on 69th Street north of Douglas Parkway on Tuesday. The bites were serious, said Urbandale Police Sgt. Gary Lang. The victims have started rabies shots. It creates a big problem to have cats wandering around the neighborhood, Lang said. “Cats need to be confined just like dogs,” he said. “We just need to find the owner and see if it’s had its shots.” People have been asked to call 222-3321 if they see the suspected cat.

Minnesota 10/25/12 Mower County: A raccoon that attacked and bit a 3-year-old girl near Austin will be tested for rabies. The girl’s father killed the raccoon after her mother saw it biting her daughter’s arm and kicked it away. – See http://www.startribune.com/local/175810081.html

National 10/23/12 cdc.gov: Update – 48 states have reported WNV infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes. A total of 4,725 cases of WNV disease in people, including 219 deaths, have been reported to CDC. Of these, 2,413 (51%) were classified as neuroinvasive disease (such as meningitis or encephalitis) and 2,312 (49%) were classified as non-neuroinvasive disease. The 4,725 cases reported thus far in 2012 is the highest number of WNV disease cases reported to CDC through the fourth week in October since 2003. Almost 70 percent of the cases have been reported from eight states (Texas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Illinois, South Dakota, Michigan, and Oklahoma) and over a third of all cases have been reported from Texas. – For further details see http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm

California 10/24/12 San Mateo County: Health officials today confirmed a squirrel in SanMateo tested positive for WNV. The squirrel tested positive for WNV chronic, which officials say indicates a low infection level, meaning the infection was not acquired this year and is a lesser concern to public health officials. – See http://sanmateo.patch.com/articles/san-mateo-squirrel-tests-positive-wnv

Arkansas 10/25/12 Fulton County: A dead skunk found in a resident’s backyard near a fenced area where unvaccinated dogs are kept has tested positive for rabies. So far this year officials have confirmed 115 cases of rabies statewide including 90 skunks. – See http://www.areawidenews.com/story/1906835.html

Florida 10/25/12 Brevard County: Officials say a bat found in Melbourne on Tuesday has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Bat-in-Melbourne-tested-positive-for-rabies-3981526.php

Maine 10/26/12 Cumberland County: A Falmouth woman is trying to identify a dog so she can spare her 5-year-old daughter a series of rabies shots. Gia Davis said her daughter was walking with a care-giver on one of Portland’s trails near the Ocean Avenue dog park about 4:45 p.m. Tuesday when a dog attacked her. The care-giver and witnesses told Davis that the girl, who was already afraid of dogs, curled up in a fetal position and the dog bit her in the back of the neck and broke the skin, Davis said. The dog retreated after a woman called for it. “We were probably pretty lucky,” Davis said. “This dog had her by the back of the neck.”

Now, Davis wants to make sure the dog has had a rabies shot, so that her daughter doesn’t have to get a series of five shots, including two at the site of the puncture. “I have to vaccinate her. It’s most likely not needed, but I don’t know 100 percent and I have to make a pretty quick call,” Davis said. She must hear by Friday night or she will have to start the treatment, she said. The care-giver, who is a nurse, tried to get the name of the dog’s owner, Davis said. The woman said her name was Regina and she was from Vermont. She gave her a phone number with a Vermont area code. When they tried to call the number later, it was disconnected. Davis said the number may have been copied wrong, but either way, she wants to know whether the dog is up to date on its vaccinations. Dogs must be licensed in Maine and must have up-to-date rabies vaccinations to be licensed. Davis said she has few clues about the dog’s identity. It appeared to be a mixed breed related to a pit bull though somewhat bigger, like a Labrador retriever, she said.

The woman was with a man, and they appeared to be in their 30s. He had a short, scruffy beard and she had shoulder- length, straight dark hair and was wearing a green L.L. Bean-style vest, the care-giver told Davis. They appeared to be with another couple, who had two yellow Labrador retrievers, Davis said. Anyone with information is asked to call Lt. John Kilbride at the Falmouth Police Department.

National 10/18/12 dvm360.com: by Heather Biele, DVM – In early September, 187 cases of equine West Nile virus were reported nationwide, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s disease maps. Now, just one month later, that number has soared to 518, according to a report posted on October 16. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) released a similar report in early October showing that the mosquito-borne virus is a much greater problem this year, having far surpassed 2011’s report of 87 cases. The USDA states, however, that while this number is higher than the number of cases identified last year, it’s very similar to the number of cases reported to officials years prior.

Amy Glaser, DVM, PhD, a West Nile virus expert and senior research associate at the Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, isn’t surprised by these numbers and actually expects a peak in caseload around this time each year. “Traditionally, the largest volume for equine West Nile virus occurs in September and October, right up until the first frost,” she says. “That typically represents the peak of cases we see during any particular epizootic year.”

Deer mouse. Common carrier of Hantavirus. Courtesy U.S. Department of Agriculture.

New York 10/13/12 timesunion.com: by Rick Karlin – The Long Island resident who contracted a suspected case of hantavirus after being bitten by a mouse in the Adirondacks in August believes the state Department of Environmental Conservation should consider trapping mice in the region to try to gauge how many rodents are carrying the illness. And “if it’s confirmed, they should really say something about it,” said Long Island’s Michael Vaughan on Friday during a telephone conference with his doctor at Stony Brook University Hospital, where he recovered from the virus last month. A geophysicist and researcher at SUNY Stony Brook, the 72-year-old was bitten by a mouse while camping in a High Peaks lean-to and became ill a month later. Vaughan and his doctor, Rekha Sivadas, cautioned that the hantavirus wasn’t officially confirmed: They’re still waiting for blood samples to come back from the federal Centers for Disease Control and state Health Department. But Sivadas said a sample they sent to a reputable private lab turned up positive for hantavirus, and Vaughan exhibited classic symptoms of the ailment.

While rare, hantavirus can become serious, attacking its victim’s respiratory system. Earlier in the summer, an outbreak of the virus in California’s Yosemite National Park infected nine people and killed three who caught it while staying in canvas-sided cabins. The virus is usually contracted by people when they inhale dust contaminated with rodent droppings. Transmission through a bite is highly unusual. – For complete article see http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Patient-Check-rodents-for-hantavirus-3944488.php

Louisiana 10/12/12 dhh.louisiana.gov: Update – State health officials today confirmed 9 new human cases of WNV. Also, one death from WNV occurred this week. This year, 312 cases and 12 deaths from the disease have been reported. There are 5 new neuroinvasive disease cases reported this week, from Calcasieu (2), Iberia (1), Lafayette (1) and Orleans (1) parishes. There are 4 new West Nile Fever cases, from Ascension (2), JeffersonDavis (1) and Livingston (1) parishes. – See http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/newsroom/detail/2667

New Jersey 10/11/12 Atlantic County: A raccoon found in the 100 block of Perry Lane in Egg HarborTownship on Oct 8th has tested positive for rabies. Two vaccinated dogs that may have been in contact with the raccoon have been placed under quarantine. – See http://www.shorenewstoday.com/snt/news/index.php/egg-harbor-twp/eht-events/30575-rabies-news.html

North Carolina 10/11/12 Mecklenburg County: Health officials issued a rabies warning on Thursday after a dog found on Stem Court in the Holly Hills neighborhood of MintHill, zip code 28227, tested positive for the virus. – See http://www.wbtv.com/story/19796300/health-officials-warn

Vermont 10/13/12 Windham County: A Bellows Falls family is reportedly in good health after unofficially adopting a family of stray cats, one of which has died from a confirmed case of rabies. According to Dr. Bob Johnson, Vermont’s state health veterinarian, a mother cat and four kittens were found in the village and taken in by a kind-hearted family a little over a month ago. After four to six weeks, however, one of the kittens became ill and lethargic and a member of the family brought it to the Rockingham Veterinary Clinic in Chester. The feral kitten’s condition worsened and it died on Thursday. The cause of death was determined to be an open wound infected with rabies. – See http://www.reformer.com/ci_21763732/officials-confirm-case-rabies-bellows-falls?source=most_viewed

Illinois 10/05/12 dnr.illinois.gov: News Release – State officials today announced updated results of monitoring of deer mortality in the state attributed to Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD). Since an earlier update on September 6, many Illinois citizens have taken the time to make reports of sick, dead, and/or dying animals throughout the state. The IDNR Division of Wildlife Resources thanks those individuals who have taken time to provide information on EHD-probable deer mortality in the state. As of September 30, there were 2,043 deer reported as probable EHD deaths, with reports from 76 counties. The highest numbers were reported from Cook (326); Calhoun (181); Coles (138); Macon and Shelby (121). Hunters taking to the field in Illinois for archery deer hunting and the Oct. 6-7 Illinois Youth Firearm Deer Hunt need not be concerned about eating venison from animals that may have contracted EHD and survived. EHD has no impact on humans, pets, or livestock. – For complete news release and county maps see http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/news/Pages/EpizooticHemorrhagicDisease%28EHD%29IllinoisUpdate.aspx

Bubonic Plague:

Ground squirrel. Courtesy National Park Service.

California 10/05/12 inlandnewstoday.com: For the first time in nearly a decade, bubonicplague has been confirmed in Riverside County. State health officials said Thursday that a ground squirrel tested positive. It was found during routine testing at the Fern Basin campground in the San Jacinto Mountains north of Idyllwild. It’s an area where similar findings were an annual occurrence in the 1990’s. Bubonic plague is a bacterial disease that can be transmitted from wild rodents to humans through bites from infected fleas. Campers are being warned to stay away from squirrels and other wild animals.

Lyme Disease:

National 10/05/12 petsandparasites.org: by Dr. Chris Carpenter – The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) 2012 Fall LymeDisease Forecast calls for increased risk in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region, the upper Midwest, the Southeastern United States and all along the West Coast. The disease incidence is steadily spreading southward, even into some areas traditionally free or with low incidence of Lyme disease such as the Midwest and parts of the Southeast. The Northeast continues as the most Lyme endemic region of the country. – For complete article see http://www.petsandparasites.org/about-capc/

Mountain Lion Sightings:

Idaho 10/05/12 Ada County: A Boise police bicycle officer saw a mountain lion at about 9:30 a.m. Friday, according to a release from the police department. The cat was spotted beyond 31st and Pleasanton streets in a remote gravel area. The animal fled the area, and officers were unable to locate it. Police are consulting with Idaho Fish & Game officials. The Friday morning sighting was the fifth since Wednesday. – See http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/10/05/2718042/cougar-sighting-friday-morning.html

Coyote Attacks:

California 10/05/12 Orange County: A Tustin family says their small dog was fatally injured by a coyote in their Laurelwood neighborhood front yard last month. So far this year, local police have reported 13 coyote sightings near Bryan Avenue and Jamboree Road, about 2 miles from Laurelwood. – See http://www.ocregister.com/news/coyote-373645-coyotes-residents.html

Louisiana 10/05/12 dhh.louisiana.gov: Update – State health officials have confirmed 25 new human cases of WNV, but not new deaths occurred this week. So far this year, 305 human cases of WNV have been reported, including 11 WNV-related deaths. – See http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/newsroom/detail/2651

Tennessee 10/05/12 tnpublichealth: State health officials are currently distributing oralrabiesvaccine packets in eight northeast counties to prevent the spread of rabies in raccoons. The air drops began Tuesday and will continue through Oct. 12th.

Alberta 09/28/12 the province.com: A popular hiking area in Banff National Park has been closed after a grizzly bear attacked and killed a small dog. Parks Canada spokeswoman Brianna Burley said it happened in the Skoki Valley area, near the Lake Louise ski hill, on Thursday. A hiker was scrambling off the trail with his Jack Russell terrier when the adult grizzly approached and started stalking the pet. “At first the hiker tried to stand his ground against the grizzly bear, and then came to a realization that the bear was intent on getting the dog,” Burley said Friday. The man tried to scare off the animal by yelling, throwing rocks and his backpack at it, but the grizzly wasn’t backing off, Burley said. “At this point he dropped the leash and the dog ran away about 20 feet at which point the bear chased the dog and that’s where the bear overtook the dog.” The grizzly left the area, taking the dog’s body. The hiker, an employee of Skoki Lodge, was not hurt but was shaken. – For complete article see http://www.theprovince.com/travel/Trails+closed+after+grizzly+bear+attacks+kills+small+Banff/7317499/story.html

Iowa 09/28/12 idph.state.ia.us: News Release – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Iowa Department of Public Health today reminded Iowans that mosquitoes remain active until hard freeze occurs and can carry WNV. Surveillance has shown a larger number of horses have been infected with WNV this year, with more than 20 confirmed cases. In addition, 19 human cases of WNV have been reported in 16 counties in 2012. No WNV-related deaths have been reported this year. Humans cannot ‘catch’ WNV from an animal, but an increase in animal cases indicates higher activity among mosquitoes carrying the virus. – See http://www.idph.state.ia.us/IdphNews/Reader.aspx?id=8225EBD7-3840-4A3A-9783-96313D26A376

Louisiana 09/28/12 dhh.louisiana.gov: Update – State health officials today confirmed 29 new human cases of WNV this week and no new deaths, and reminded residents to continue taking precautions against mosquito bites so they can lower their risk of infection. The state is seeing the highest number of reported WNV infections in several years, with 280 cases and 11 deaths from the disease thus far in 2012. – For details and county involved see http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/newsroom/detail/2646

Mississippi 09/27/12 msdh.ms.gov: Update – State health officials confirm there have been 26 new human cases of WNV in the past week. The number of human cases now confirmed totals 197, including 5 deaths. – For details and county information see http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/14,0,93,554.html

Rabies:

New Jersey 09/29/12 Somerset County: A grounded bat found outside 422 Brookside Lane in Hillsborough less than a mile from the Middle School has tested positive for rabies. Parents of area school children are urged to contact health or school officials if their children touched the bat. Several children were seen near the bat poking it with a stick. – see http://hillsborough.patch.com/articles/rabid-bat-found-on-brookside-lane-sidewalk

Jerry Genesio

Author of "UNSEEN HAZARDS That Threaten Hunters, Campers, and Hikers: What you should know about pathogens commonly found in wildlife."

This is where wildlife and healthcare professionals, hunters, campers, hikers, anglers, and other outdoor enthusiasts will find interesting information about natural unseen hazards that place them at risk. As my book focused exclusively on Rabies, Tetanus (Lockjaw), Tularemia (Rabbit Fever), Brucellosis (Undulant Fever), Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Borrelia (Lyme Disease), posts regarding these six diseases will be limited to more recent developments and items of interest that were not included or were not available when the book was published in June of 2009. Topics will also include Chronic Wasting Disease, West Nile Virus, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, and other diseases of particular interest to those who work and play in the great American outdoors.

Don’t Be Afraid – Be Aware!

The Natural Unseen Hazards blog is available to all free of charge and is maintained as a public service.

If you have questions related to pathogens commonly found in wildlife, e.g. the disease caused by a specific pathogen, hosts, vectors, symptoms, treatment, territorial range, etc., please comment here or e-mail to jerrygenesio@gmail.com and I will attempt to provide answers.

"Chance favors the prepared mind."
Louis Pasteur

Unless otherwise noted, images have been provided by the CDC Public Health Image Library, Wikimedia Commons, the National Park Service or other government agencies, Bing.com, and/or Google.com.

"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less."
Marie Curie

"It's better to look ahead and prepare, than to look back and regret."
Jackie Joyner Kersee